Folding bath-tub.



I, P. H. RUSS. FOLDING BATH TUB. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25, 1911.

' Patented Dec.17,1912

1,47 AAQn WITNESSES {I j/ ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT oEEio FRANKHENRY RUSS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO ROBERT L. SMITH, OFBROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

FOLDING- BATH-TUB.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented Dec. 17, 1912..

Application filed February 25, 1911. Serial No. 610,700.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, FRANK HENRY Russ, a citizen of the United States,resident of the borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, city and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in FoldingBath-Tubs, of which the following is a specification.

The development of folding bath tubs has received considerable attentionand applications for patent on the development have been made by myselfand others until there remains but the new and advantageous features ofthe construction, to be considered from a patentable standpoint. Evensome of the features found in this particular device are also to befound in my application for a similar device which was filed June 10th,1910 and bears Serial #569,733.

In devices of this general character the particular advantages lie inthe efliciency of, the device when used as a tub, in its lightness fortransportation, and in its construction that allows it to be folded intoa compact whole. It is with this last feature that I have particularlyto do in this application.

The following is what I consider the best means of carrying out thisinvention.

The accompanying drawings form'a part of this specification, in which:

Figure 1 shows the completed device, it is in side elevation. Fig. 2 isan end view corresponding to Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows, in side elevation oneof the legs and its junction with the side frame in this figure thereceptacle is omitted. Fig. 4 shows a modification of the hinge member.Fig. 5 is a view corresponding to Fig. 3 though with the legs folded.

Similar reference numerals indicate like parts in all the figures wherethey appear.

The numeral 1 indicates the tub or receptacle for the water, it is offabric, oiled silk or canvas, or canvas impregnated with rubber so as tomake it water proof. The tub is oblong and when the sides and ends areupturned the surplus materialis folded in without cutting and thenclamped into position. In this way I obtain a complete receptaclewithout stitching.

2 and 3 indicate the side rails which may be of wood, to these the tubis secured by means of the metallic fastenersor nails 4:.

mediately' adjacentand-supporting the side rails 2 and 3. The legs whichsupport the 6, and the legs which support the side rail -3 are numbered7 and 8.

The legs do not extend directly from the side rails downward but aresecured in such a manner that they extend inward and cross in airs. Thelegs 5 and 7 being secured to get er at mid-height by the pivot 9 andthe legs 6 and 8 are similarly secured. by the pivot 10. The blocks 11are arranged upon the pivots 9 and 10 and between the pairs of legssecured by the pivots in such a manner as to support the legs when theyare in their operable position and to relieve the pivots 9- and 10 fromthe strain which mighktend to shear the pivots. I

One of the most important elements of my device though one which has notbeen before described is the means for connecting the legs reliably tothe side bar that they are intended to support. This means is the hingel2 and its peculiar construction makes it well adapted for the duties itis called upon to perform. In its simplest form that shown in Figs. 1and 2 it is made of sheet metal about {-3 of an inch thick and in shapeis not unlike the letter. 5., having a long and a short end. In the longend I provide two holes which are to receive wood screws. to secure itto one of the ends of the side rail 2 are numbered 5 and legs. A singlehole is produced in the short endand a strong screw which is to act asthepivot 13 secures this end loosely to one of the side bars.

In Fig. 5 I have shown the advantages to be derived from the peculiarlyconstructed hinge that is, that the legs fold under the rolled tub insuch a manner as to allowsufiicient room for the 'tuband yet cause thelegs to fold in a line parallel to that ofthe side bars.

Because of the relative operable position of the legs the length of theshorter end of each of the L hinges mustbe determined by the positionthey are to occupy, for instance the length of the shorter and of thehinges on the legs 7 and-.8 'is less than that on i the legs 5 and 6 forthe reason that legs 5 and 6 must travel a greaterarcto assume and 8 4Modification may-be made within the their proper place outside of thelegs '2' its parting from the principle or sacrificing the advantages ofthis invention.

glhe connection of the hinges 12 to the me gnbers with which they are toServe might be strengthened or even improved if the side rails and legswere slitted at their adjacent portions allowing the hinge to be securedand operated within the slit. ,A similar construction is well known inother arts.

Fig. 4 shows a modification that may be advantageous.

Having carefully and fully described my invention What I claim anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is A folding bath tub having a frameof parallel side members, a leg at each end of each said side member andhingedly connected thereto, said legs arranged in pairs approaching andcrossing each other, a pivot through said legs at the point of crossing,and a block loosely suspended upon said pivot, said block being providedwith a pinrality of extensions, two bearing upon each said leg, and atub operable with the frame for the purpose set forth.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New Yorkthis 25 day of February, 1911, in. the resence of two witnesses.

F. HENRY RUSS.

Witnesses:

G. E. Srnnnrrrn, J. B. STEIN.

